Cleaning implement



NOV. 4, 1941. PETTY I 2,261,449

CLEANING IMPLEMENT Filed May 27, 1940 INVENTOR.

Patented Nov. 4, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFIQE Q CLEANINGIll/[PLEMENT Floyd T. Petty, Westfielcl, Mass. I Application May 27,1940, Serial No. 337,447

i 3 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in cleaning implements and it isdirected more particularly to an improved mop construction.

- It is a principal object of the invention to provide a mop of theso-called swivel type having a novel support and handle construction. Aswill appear, the invention includes a new support for the mop, brush,duster or similar body and a handle which is attached thereto in such away that the mop body may easily take various angular positions relativeto the line of direction in which the end of the stick is moving.

By reason of the novel construction of the invention, the mop may bemore easily manipulated and moved over a floor surface, it beingparticularly suitable for working at the areas about the feet of tables,chairs, desks, and the like.

It is a further object of the invention to proexpensive stick or handleso. associated there with that rotation thereof in either direction willcause movement of the frame and the mop body carried thereby. Accordingto the invention, the frame and handle structure is also durable and isvery unlikely to get out of repair.

With the foregoing and various other novel features and advantages andother objects of my invention as will become more apparent as thedescription proceeds, the invention consists in certain novel featuresof construction and in the combination and arrangement of parts as willbe hereinafter more particularly pointed out in the claims hereuntoannexed and more fully described and referred to in connection with theaccompanying drawing wherein:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of the frame or supporting structure of theinvention;

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the same; and

Fig. 3 is a side elevational view showing how the lower end portion of ahandle or stick embodying the features of the invention may beassociated with the frame member.

Referring now to the drawing more in detail, the invention will be fullydescribed.

The frame member, indicated generally by 2, preferably consists of alength of metal, either rod-like, as shown, or strip-like in its nature.It is bent into a more or less oblong or oval formation so as to havespaced side rails 4 and end portions 6. The opposite ends of the saidlength of metal are brought into adjacency and It is this frame which'isadapted to carry the mop body (not"shown') which usually consists offabric such as canvas, having what are called thrums which are somehowattached thereto; It is" common to provide a sleeve-like member offabric for carrying the thrums and this sleeve is slipped over theframe.

Attached to'the side rails 4 in oppositely-disposed relation are bracketmembers 8. Each of these brackets 8 preferably consist of a strip ofsheet material having an intermediate portion bent around the side railsso as to firmly em-' brace the same and oppositeend portions broughtinto' adjacent with one another and extending inwardly towards thecenter of the frame, as shown. 1

It is desirable that the brackets be held against sliding movementrelative to the rails and I have found that this may be easily andeconomically accomplished by bending the side rails upwardly so as tohave oppositely-disposed raised portions and then-clamping the bodyparts of the brackets over these as shown in Fig. 2. That is to say,theoffsetting of the rails and brackets serves to prevent relativemovement thereof so that the brackets are held in. their desiredoppositelydisposed relation.

, Such arrangement obviates the need for more expensive securing.methods such as riveting,

welding, etc., although.suchcouldbe'used. Further one of the bracketsmay thus hold the opposite ends of the frame-forming wire in adjacency,also as shown in Fig. 2.

The inwardly-extending end portions of each bracket 8 are preferably inabutting relation and provided with aligned slots or openings Ill spacedinwardly of their inner edges. A pivot member indicated generally by I2is provided and this has its opposite end portions I l journalledbetween said end parts of the oppositely-disposed brackets, asindicated.

Preferably the opposite ends of the rod l2 are headed, as at [6, andthese are disposed in said slots 10, the parts of the brackets inwardlyof the slots embracing the rod parts adjacent the heads I6. It isdesirable that further strength and permanency be given the article bysecuring the said end parts of each bracket together, as by riveting,welding, or otherwise.

According to the preferred form shown, this last-mentioned securing isaccomplished by having one end portion of each bracket project inwardlybeyond the other end portion thereof. This projecting part is designatedby 30 and is are held in such relation by any suitable means. bent intoflange-forming position as shown so as to abut the foremost edge of theshorter end portion to which it is welded.

Said pivot member I2 is bent to have a central wrist portion l8 whichextends transversely to the opposite end parts of the rod and insubstantial parallelism with the side rails. That is to say, the metalrod 12 is preferably bent so that its opposite end parts H are insubstantial axial alignment and substantially at right angles to thewrist l8.

A stick or handle member is shown at 20 and this is provided with ametallic ferrule 22 on its lower end. The member 22 may be secured tothe stick by bolt 24, screw, or otherwise.

The lower end portion of the ferrule member 22 extends beyond the lowerend of the stick and is preferably of a reduced diameter with respect tothe rest of the ferrule, as shown in Fig. 3. In any event the wristportion [8 of the pivot member is journalled in this lower end portionof the handle-receiving member 22 so that the mop body and handle mayassume various angular positions relative to one another when the deviceis in use,

By reason of the construction just described, manipulation by the userof the handle or stick causes direct movement of the frame or support inthe desired direction. The pivotal connection permits of certain anddependable variation of the angle or direction at or in which it isdesired to operate the mop merely by rotating the handle in onedirection or the other and it is such that a wide range of controlledmovement is obtainable, regardless of the plane in which the free end ofthe stick is being moved.

While I have described the invention in great detail and with respect tothe present preferred form thereof, it is not desired to be limitedthereto since changes and modifications may be made therein withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by theclaims. The invention may be embodied in other specific forms withoutdeparting from the essential characteristics thereof. The presentembodiments are therefore to be considered in all respects asillustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention beingindicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoingdescription, and all changes which come Within the meaning and range ofequivalency of the claims are therefore intended to be embraced therein.

What it is desired to claim and secure by Letters Patent of the UnitedStates is:

1. The combination with a mop frame in the form of a loop having spacedside rails with means for connecting a mop handle thereto comprising,the side rails intermediate their opposite ends being upwardly offsetfrom the plane of the end portions thereof, brackets formed from sheetmetal members bent around the offset portions of the rails and portionsadjacent thereto with end portions of the members in superposed relationinwardly of the frame, inner end portions of the members being formed toprovide bearings and having openings therethrough forming shouldersoutwardly of the bearings, a pivot member having end parts journalled inthe bearings with a central transverse portion for connecting to a mophandle, and projections on the outer endsof the end parts in saidopenings engaging the shoulders on the outer ends of said bearings.

2. The combination with a mop frame in the form of a closed loop havingside rails of, inwardly extending bracket members enclosing the saidside rails of the loop and secured thereto having aligned bearings andopenings therethrough providing shoulders at the outer ends of saidbearings, a pivot member having aligned end journal parts rotatable inthe bearings of the brackets and a central transverse offset portion fora mop handle, and projections on the ends of the journal parts of thepivot disposed in said openings engageable with said shoulders toprevent axial displacement of the pivot member.

3. The combination with a mop frame in the form of a closed loop havingside rails of, brackets associated with said side rails formed fromsheet metal members having intermediate portions bent around and securedto said rails with end portions in superposed relation inside of saidrails and provided with openings therethrough at a distance outwardlyfrom the adjacent inner ends thereof, the inner adjacent end portions ofsaid members formed to provide aligned bearings, a pivot member havingend portions journalled in said bearings and enlarged extremities insaid openings engageable with outer ends of said bearings to preventaxial displacement of said pivot member.

FLOYD T. PETTY.

